Background Checks

Recommend you contact someone at a local nursing school. As an alternative, check out the California (if that's where you intend to practice) nurse practice act.

In many jurisdictions, there's a term of years' limitation. In some states, if the felony conviction is more than 10 years old, then it doesn't pose a bar to license obtainment.

But, obviously, you need to confirm the requirement in your selected venue.

Good luck!

... The nursing schools have no control over what the board will allow...

Of course, that's correct. Nursing schools aren't state regulatory bodies.

But Sammy, a nursing school should be able to answer your question readily. In our school, along with your nursing program app is a legal form addressing criminal convictions and our state's rule on them.

Contacting a local school is often much easier, faster and cheaper than reaching a BON, which can be a bureacratic nightmare, which doesn't have any real connection to you, and is likely to be located in the state's capital... oft a distance away and requiring a long-distance telephone charge. (Guess if you're in Thailand, calling a school in San Fran or Sacramento wouldn't amount to a heck of a lot of difference. :) )

I have to agree with Larry... When I was in school, if you had any type of conviction on your record, the school offered paperwork to us that we could fill out WAY in advance of graduation. That paperwork was then forwarded to the powers that be and the BON.... at that point people were given the next step.

I would say that you might want to start to gather any paperwork from that conviction that you may need later, as those types of paperwork are often hard to get a hold of!

My nursing school recommended I call the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) directly.

I no longer have the number, but there is a person designated specifically for questions such as yours, sammycakes. It was very easy to reach her and she was helpful and compassionate.

Read this FAQ at the CA BRN's website:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/lca/dispinfo.htm

What's most important is that you are forthcoming and prepared to address your prior conviction. Start getting your paperwork in order now and don't let it stop you from going to nursing school.

Though it may seem daunting, the BRN understands and wants to help you to become a nurse.

p.s. I will look for that telephone number and if I find it, I will post it here.

O.K. I am so confused. I am 24 and started going to school again. I would love to go into nursing but I am confused about the way the board evalutes people with criminal records. All I keep coming up with is it's done on an individual basis. I was convicted of a violent felony when I was nineteen and spent four months in jail. It was an isolated incident. I have since made a complete turn around. My concern is that I will spend my money putting myself through school and will be denied. I know someone who had several felony drug convictions and she got her license. Has anyone out there been in this position or know of anyone with circumstances similar to mine that weren't denied. Any information would be much appreciated.

I was convicted of a drug charge when i was 19yrs. I'm 33 yrs now and I have had to go through hoops for the lic. board but hopefully it will all pay off. I had to send in reference letters, court doc's, probation doc's, rehab doc's, public defender doc's. Sent the paperwork off on Friday and now I get to sit around and wait for them to decide if i have wasted the past 14 years of my life. I have been doing in -home health care since I was young and i don't know what i will do if the decide I'am not worthy. I was told by the probation dept in Ca if you completed evrything you were supposed to they will give you the benifit of the doubt. I hope that everything works out for you! and if you post something back we can keep in touch and I can let you know what the results are! Cyn.

I am from Michigan. In May 2002 I violated a personal protection order by having unconsented phone contact with an individual, no acts of violence also an isolated incidence ( arguing over a guy). I pled guilty sentencing was post poned due to my pregnancy. I was sentence to probation for 5 years. I'm on non-reporting probation. My probation officer gives me the highest praise and will write the board on my be-half. I also have several classmates who are now nurses that will write the board on my behalf.My probation officer is also enetering an early discharge for me. Anyway I started the nursing program in 2002 and will graduate this semester. The charge is stalking which is a felony. I am so freaking nervous and stressed out because this is my livlihood for myself and my children. I dont know if I will be able to obtain a nursing license. I know I've made a mistake, which the mistake was an event in my life not who I am. I have learned from this situation and has move forward in my life trying to better myself. I pray to god every day that I am given the chance. For F.Y.I have not been in any trouble since it only took 1 time to make me a believer. If anyone out there has any information that can help me address the board or have known of someone to obtain their license in MI or in other state ( I want to relocate) it will be very helpful also words of encouragement would be appreciated because I am very down and out right now.

Thank you for your time!!

O.K. I am so confused. I am 24 and started going to school again. I would love to go into nursing but I am confused about the way the board evalutes people with criminal records. All I keep coming up with is it's done on an individual basis. I was convicted of a violent felony when I was nineteen and spent four months in jail. It was an isolated incident. I have since made a complete turn around. My concern is that I will spend my money putting myself through school and will be denied. I know someone who had several felony drug convictions and she got her license. Has anyone out there been in this position or know of anyone with circumstances similar to mine that weren't denied. Any information would be much appreciated.

Sammycakes, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your conviction substantially has a great deal to do with the welfare of patients and is directly related to the scope of Nursing. A classmate of mine had a similar scenario as yours and the Board of Registered Nursing denied his application for lisensure, and this conviction was dated back some 15 years ago. Because your felony conviction had to do with causing harm to another and the court sentenced you to 4 months in jail and the fact it happened just 5 years ago, tells others that you have an anger management issue. THAT is very concerning to the public, nursing recruiters and, in my opinion, the BRN. Again, I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I am just keepin' it real.

Were you ever able to retain your license? Just curious.

Thanks:p

you need to discuss this with a nursing school of your choice. Im thinking you probably can go to school and graduate, but probably not be able to be licensed until 10 years have past from your date of conviction...good luck

O.K. I am so confused. I am 24 and started going to school again. I would love to go into nursing but I am confused about the way the board evalutes people with criminal records. All I keep coming up with is it's done on an individual basis. I was convicted of a violent felony when I was nineteen and spent four months in jail. It was an isolated incident. I have since made a complete turn around. My concern is that I will spend my money putting myself through school and will be denied. I know someone who had several felony drug convictions and she got her license. Has anyone out there been in this position or know of anyone with circumstances similar to mine that weren't denied. Any information would be much appreciated.

I would seek the advice of a lawyer to do a background check and if it does show up I would have the lawyer file an expungement which will seal the record and it will not ever show up again. There are two types of background checks. One is a state check and is not very indepth. The other requires fingerprints and is called a level II check. The level II check is US wide, through all law enforcement data bases and the FBI. Just because it may not appear on a level I it very well may appear on a level II. Go ask an attorney to do both types of background, hav eit sealed, and continue on with your life with no fears of it ever surfacing again. This seems like the only safe alternative you have in my opinion.

Good Luck to you.

I would suggest working with your board of nursing and be up front with them all the way to the end. Honesty will be your best course of action. Do not let then find things on discovery that will ruin everything.

I think you should just get the record sealed by a lawyer.

Most nursing schools are strict. You can't even get accepted if you are taking Phentermine, yet alone convicted of a felony. More important, if you get in and make it through, it is up to your state if they give you a license or not.